Results 1,601-1,620 of 4,726 for speaker:Malcolm Noonan

Seanad: Electoral Reform Bill 2022: Committee Stage (30 Jun 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: We will try to do that if my diary allows.

Seanad: Electoral Reform Bill 2022: Committee Stage (30 Jun 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: Again, I thank Senators for the proposed amendment, which would require that the commission would lay a record of all contracts for consultants or advisers before both Houses of the Oireachtas on a biannual basis. Appendix B5 of the Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies - Business and Financial Reporting Requirements, requires that expenditure by public bodies on external...

Seanad: Electoral Reform Bill 2022: Committee Stage (30 Jun 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: I thank Senators Moynihan, Hoey, Sherlock and Wall for tabling this amendment. Deputy Nash raised the matter to which it relates on Committee Stage in the Dáil and I undertook to consult with the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel on it. In the intervening period, I was advised that the reference in the Bill to the Civil Service Regulation Act 1956 is correct and it is not necessary...

Seanad: Electoral Reform Bill 2022: Committee Stage (30 Jun 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: I understand the Senator is not proceeding with amendment No. 20.

Seanad: Electoral Reform Bill 2022: Committee Stage (30 Jun 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: I will speak to amendments Nos. 19 and 20 nonetheless because they are related. Amendments Nos. 19 and 20 propose to remove section 20(6) and instead insert that the chief executive can be reappointed only once. Both approaches seek to achieve the same goal and the option put forward by the Senators was considered in the course of drafting. However, my officials and I were guided by the...

Seanad: Electoral Reform Bill 2022: Committee Stage (30 Jun 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: It is clear we are trying to have an equitable process for the removal of a chief executive. It correctly allows the chief executive to make representations. It must be equitable for due process. That is what we are trying to achieve here.

Seanad: Electoral Reform Bill 2022: Committee Stage (30 Jun 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: I will seek clarity for the Senator.

Seanad: Electoral Reform Bill 2022: Committee Stage (30 Jun 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: I will get clarification on that for the Senator.

Seanad: Electoral Reform Bill 2022: Committee Stage (30 Jun 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: I thank Senators Ruane, Higgins, Black and Flynn for these amendments. Amendment No. 23 seeks to amend existing provisions in order that, in addition to an coimisiún’s annual report being published, it would be published in an accessible manner. Amendment No. 51 seeks to provide that the post-electoral event reviews that an coimisiún may produce would be published in...

Seanad: Electoral Reform Bill 2022: Committee Stage (30 Jun 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: Section 28 sets out that the Central Statistics Office and Ordnance Survey Ireland, OSI, shall provide assistance to the commission in its work free of charge. This section transposes existing legislation relating to constituency reviews. The amendment proposes to add to this section that the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission will also provide assistance free of charge. Section...

Seanad: Electoral Reform Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (6 Jul 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: I thank all the Senators for their contributions. I will make a general point on the discussion we have had. I wholeheartedly support the notion of Seanad reform. There was not a commitment to it in the programme for the Government. It is a three-party programme for Government negotiated with three parties in good faith. The Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, gave a commitment to examine...

Seanad: Electoral Reform Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (6 Jul 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: There is nothing to stop the electoral commission from making recommendations on any aspect of electoral law, including Seanad electoral law. The point was made by Senator Higgins that the possibility is there. Yes, it is tasked with quite an amount of work. We have already spent five and a half hours on this. We will have had seven and a half hours in total. I absolutely respect the...

Seanad: Electoral Reform Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (6 Jul 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: I again thank Senators Ruane, Higgins, Black and Flynn for these amendments and the sentiment behind them on improving accessibility and participation. It is important and something we all want to achieve. These amendments seek to amend existing provisions in order that, first, as part of an coimisiún's referendum functions, the statement it prepares and publishes to explain the...

Seanad: Electoral Reform Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (6 Jul 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: In my response to the amendments there is a strong commitment that we are already going - I will not say above and beyond - strongly in ensuring inclusivity, including referendum guides around Braille, Irish Sign Language, audio, large print format and easy-to-read format for people with intellectual disabilities. Thus, we are already doing that. The referendum commission ethos in that...

Seanad: Electoral Reform Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (6 Jul 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: I thank the Senators for their contributions. Section 51 provides for transparency on the register of political parties and it will be open to the commission to publish it on its website.Political parties have a responsibility to publish material about the party on their websites. It is something my party and, I am sure, all the established parties take seriously.

Seanad: Electoral Reform Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (6 Jul 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: The onus on and responsibility of political parties in that regard are critical in order that people who want to look up a political party or are interested in joining one are able to clearly see on the party's website its guiding principles, founding principles, etc. All political parties should adhere to that. I thank Senators Moynihan, Hoey, Sherlock and Wall for the proposed amendments...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: National Monuments (6 Jul 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: The friary at the referenced site is a national monument in the care and ownership of the local authority. My Department is liaising with the local authority over the condition of the monument to give archaeological advice regarding its care. The local authority would be eligible to apply for funding for conservation and repair of the friary under the 2023 Community Monuments Fund which is...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Election Management System (5 Jul 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: The Programme for Government - Our Shared Future commits to a broad range of electoral reforms including the modernisation of voter registration.   The Electoral Reform Bill provides the legislative underpinning for the modernisation among other things, including the establishment of an independent Electoral Commission.  The Bill is currently making its way...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Wildlife Protection (5 Jul 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: The Wild Bird Declarations were extended by a period of three months to allow for the completion of the review of submissions received as part of the public consultation process, the receipt of legal advice and other internal discussions in relation to species included in the Declarations. My Department is committed to carrying out a review of all the species on the Declaration list...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Electoral Process (5 Jul 2022)

Malcolm Noonan: The Programme for Government – Our Shared Future - includes a number of commitments on electoral reform including the establishment of an independent, statutory Electoral Commission.  These commitments are currently being prioritised by way of the Electoral Reform Bill 2022. The Electoral Reform Bill 2022, which is currently progressing through the Houses of the...